‘Say it Loud!’ Black History Month Oratory Competition with Exciting Prizes

The Boys and Girls Club of Hudson County & Miller Branch Library Present: “Say it Loud!” – A Black History Month Oratory Competition

The Boys and Girls Club of Hudson County, in partnership with the Miller Branch Library, is proud to announce “Say it Loud!”, an oratory competition in celebration of Black History Month. This event is open to Hudson County residents in grades 2-12, offering them a chance to win several prizes, including a brand-new bike.

Registration Details:

• Boys and Girls Club members may register at their respective clubs and benefit from weekly coaching sessions.
• Non-members are required to submit the registration form provided below. All submissions should be sent to the Miller Branch Library located at 489 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07304.

Participation Requirements for Grades 2-6: Participants in grades 2-6 are to select a 1-3 minute excerpt of a poem by a Black/African American poet, either from the list provided below or of their own choosing. Judging criteria will include the difficulty of the poem/vocabulary, interpretation, clarity, and memorization. Additionally, all participants will have the opportunity to attend weekly coaching sessions aimed at enhancing their public speaking skills.

Suggested Poems Include:

• Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Woman”
• Useni Eugene Perkins’ “Hey Black Child”
• Amanda S. C. Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb”
• Tupac Shakur’s “The Rose that Grew from Concrete”
• Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son”

Participation Requirements for Grades 7-12: Participants in grades 7-12 must choose an excerpt of a speech (minimum 3 minutes) related to Civil Rights/Black Liberation. While a list of examples is provided, students are encouraged to select a speech of their preference (Please ensure to name the speech and attach a copy with your registration form for approval). Evaluation criteria will include memorization, length, difficulty/vocabulary, interpretation, and clarity. Each participant will also have access to weekly coaching sessions to further develop their public speaking capabilities.

Speech Examples Include:

• James Baldwin’s “Pin Drop”
• John F. Kennedy’s “1963 Address on Civil Rights”
• Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?”
• Martin Luther King’s “The Three Evils of Society”

Competition Date and Venue: The competition will take place on Wednesday, February 21st, at the Miller Branch Library, 489 Bergen Avenue, from 6-8 PM. The event will feature community activists, politicians, and notable orators as judges and guest speakers, alongside performances from Boys and Girls Club members. This event is open to the general public.

Registration Deadline: February 1st, 2024

For further inquiries, please contact Ms. Mariah at the Boys and Girls Club: 201-333-4100 x 323 (Extension).

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